05 February, 2008

In case some of you have not read the comments to the previous post, Sheldon Brown passed away on Sunday. Sheldon was a fountain of bike-related knowledge, one of the best and best known bike mechanics, and an all around nice guy. He also wrote and maintained an incredible bike related web site.

10 comments:

Having seen Sheldon's passing noted far and wide, I think it's amazing how one person could link so many disparate parts of the cycling community. I think that says as much about his life - and his legacy - as anything could.

He was my first and greatest inspiration for vintage bike building. His knowledge on the histories and traditions in cycling kept me sane in a sometimes insane world. I truly regret that I'd never met him, but I'll always imagine that he had an amazing laugh...LEFT SIDE DRIVE TRAINS FOR ALL!!!

I posted this on the Classic Rendezvous list today after Lou's comment. And posted it on Serotta Forum also. Lou knew Sheldon had been diagnosed with ms...

snipped>Sheldon received the Classic Rendezvous Vintage Bicycle Award a few years>ago, I believe 2005. On the way to the car after the banquet, he fell >while>carrying the trophy. Tailwinds my friend. Lou Deeter, Orlando FL

Lou and all,It was 2005, Sheldon rode to and from the banquet with john, Richard and myself.On the way out to the car while carrying his trophy Sheldon stepped off the curb, and we thought caught his sandle on the cars tire as he went past it, he went down hard!We helped him get up,, he was still holding onto his trophy which had a base with the awards inscription written on it, and a chainring sticking up for decoration.

He was shaken, had cut himself a little, but said he was alright. We got into the car, all feeling bad for him and he was embarresed.There was an akward silence,,, I broke the ice with hey, its a bio-pace chain ring trophy now! Sheldon laughed, so we knew we could to, and drove off towards the Battle Ground Inn.He was a good sport, and as Lou said, probably knew it was more than just tripping on his sandal but he never mentioned it to us.Thats how I will remember Sheldon, clutching his trophy, which he so rightly deserved.

Quelle triste! My contacts with Sheldon were via the telephone and e-mail. However, I always felt as if I were speaking with an ideal friend: He understood more than me but was never condescending. More than a bike enthusiast, Sheldon was a fine human being. Sheldon, je suis desolee; nous te manquons deja. Mais, nous serons reunis sur la grande piste cyclable du ciel.